Things that make you go ‘hmmm’…..

Proper access to government information is also under the spotlight as a result of developments at the ICAC inquiry into former NSW Government Minister, Eddie Obeid.

It has been revealed that there was potential failure by NSW government agencies to release all relevant information to Parliament under Legislative Council Standing Order 52 (Order for the Production of Documents) - a little like an FOI (GIPA) request. 

It appears that the documents concerning the relevant matters released to Parliament are not as comprehensive as those that have appeared at the ICAC inquiry.  In addition, the agencies ordered to produce the documents do not seem to have provided reasons for non-compliance.  In other words, it was inferred that all relevant documents had been produced for Parliament.

In a recent radio interview concerning this matter, the interviewer asked the interviewee whether production of documents would include email!  Oh dear, the message is still not getting through, is it.

Further information on this interesting situation, see http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2013/s3713920.htm

Blunder Down Under!

A ‘communication breakdown’ a ‘reclassification error’ and documents ‘mistakenly shredded’ has led to Nationalbreaking news for the Crime and Conduct Commission (CMC).
The CMC are currently under investigation following a finding that files relating to the Fitzgerald inquiry into police corruption were released decades early.  The documents in question contain information about unproven allegations, surveillance logs, targets and informants at the centre of the corruption probe.  To add insult to injury, it has also come to light that thousands of Fitzgerald inquiry documents have also been mistakenly shredded.

Chairman Ross Martin ‘didn’t realise at the time how significant the blunder was’!

Don’t delete that email!

Probably preaching to the converted but just in case….

The Wall Street Journal February 19 2013 reports that ING was fined $1.2 million by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for failing to “retain or review millions of emails for various periods between 2004 and 2012” and thus it had “violated record-keeping provisions under federal securities law as well as Finra rules.”

Conferences

Looking for conferences to either attend or present at, to enhance your professional knowledge?  Here are some options:

• http://www.aiimconference.com/
• http://www.irms.org.uk/conference/conference2013
• http://inforum.net.au/
• http://www.ica.org/13944/annual-conference-news/annual-conference-2013-brussels-2024-november.html
• http://www.digitalgovernment.com/Events/Conferences/Index.shtml
• http://www.merconference.com/
• http://www.archives.org.uk/ara-conference/the-ara-conference.html
• http://www.rimaw.org/RIMAW-2012.php
• http://www.cmswire.com/events/conference/